islature in special
session for Friday, February 27, 1920. President Wilson telegraphed
members of the Senate: "May I not urge upon you the importance to the
whole country of the prompt ratification of the suffrage amendment and
express the hope that you will find it possible to lend your aid to
this end?" Both the Democratic and Republican National Committees
joined in urging ratification, as did the entire State delegation in
Congress, who had voted for submitting the amendment. The resolution
was introduced and by the rules went over for one day. All looked
promising when suddenly its advocates found themselves in a torrent of
opposition, due to the injection of the fight that was being made for
the governorship and interference from outside the State. The Maryland
Legislature sent a committee to urge its rejection and anti-suffrage
leaders from all over the country made their appearance. The vote was
taken on Wednesday and stood 47 ayes, 40 noes in the House. The vote
was 14 to 14 in the Senate. A motion to reconsider was lost by the
same vote. In the meantime Senator Jesse A. Bloch, who was in
California, telegraphed: "Just received notice of special session. Am
in favor of ratification. Please arrange a pair for me." This was
refused by the opponents with jeers. Secretary of State Houston G.
Young immediately got into communication with him on the long distance
telephone and he agreed to make a race across the continent for
Charleston.

Then came the struggle to hold the lines intact until his arrival. The
situation was most critical because a motion in the Lower House to
reconsider had been laid on the table and could be called up at any
time. Many members were anxious to go home and there was difficulty in
keeping enough present at roll call to defeat hostile attacks. The tie
in the Senate held fast, however, as Senator Bloch sped across the
country. The day he reached Chicago the opposition resorted to its
most desperate expedient by producing a former Senator, A. R.
Montgomery, who about eight months before had resigned his seat,
saying that he was leaving the State, and later had moved to Illinois.
There was documentary evidence that he had given up his residence. He
demanded of Governor Cornwell to return his letter of resignation. The
Governor refused and he then appeared in the Senate that afternoon and
offered to vote. President Sinsel promptly ruled that he was not a
member. On an appeal from this rulin